Hawaiian Electric Company Precautionary Measures

With a tsunami warning in effect, Hawaiian Electric Company is taking precautions to respond to the potential impact to the electric system and coordinating efforts with city and state emergency response agencies. We are maintaining generation. Crews are prepared to respond as necessary.

In addition, Hawaiian Electric urges customers to take the following precautions, as appropriate:

 Make sure you have a battery-powered radio on hand to listen for updates on the tsunami.

 Double check your emergency equipment at home such as flashlights, radios, cell phones and other battery-powered equipment to be sure they are operational.

 If your home or business is in an inundation zone, turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment before you leave, especially sensitive electronics. In the event of an outage, this will help prevent damage to the equipment from surges when power is restored.

 If someone in your home is dependent on electric powered, life sustaining medical equipment, check backup facilities. Plan where to go should the need for evacuation occur, and remember to take your equipment, medicine and/or supplies with you.

 Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. If power goes out, this will keep food fresher longer.

 If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it is placed in a well ventilated area (preferably outside) and be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the manufacturer's manual. As a general rule, do not plug portable generators into household outlets. Doing so could cause electricity to backflow into power lines endangering the public and Hawaiian Electric workers who may be working to restore power. Electric appliances should be plugged directly into the generator using heavy duty extension cords. Make sure the wattage of the appliances you are using does not exceed the capacity of your generator.

 Keep cash on hand. If power outages do occur, you may not be able to withdraw cash from banks or ATMs.

 Do NOT approach downed utility lines or touch fallen or low hanging wires, nor anything they may be in contact with. As a precaution, assume that all cables and lines may still be energized, regardless of whether they are power lines or telephone or cable television lines

In making the appointment, the governor was weighing a short-term replacement against pressure from top Democrats in Washington to name someone who would run in 2018 in a special election to complete Franken's term ending in 2020.

In making the appointment, the governor was weighing a short-term replacement against pressure from top Democrats in Washington to name someone who would run in 2018 in a special election to complete Franken's term ending in 2020.